Maha Kumbh: Actor Mamta Kulkarni turns into Mai Mamta Nand Giri

Kinnar Akhara’s Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi and others carry out rituals as former actor Mamta Kulkarni is being consecrated as a mahamandaleshwar through the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, in Prayagraj, on January 24, 2025.
| Picture Credit score: PTI

After enthralling her followers, movie lovers and viewers in varied roles and characters she performed, actor Mamta Kulkarni on Friday (January 24, 2025) launched into a religious journey by renouncing her worldly life and assuming a brand new identification of ‘Mai Mamta Nand Giri’, the Uttar Pradesh authorities mentioned.

In an announcement, the U.P. authorities mentioned within the ongoing Maha Kumbh, Kulkarni first took ‘sanyas’ within the Kinnar Akhara after which she obtained a brand new title ‘Mai Mamta Nand Giri’ in the identical akhara.

After performing ‘Pind Daan’, the Kinnar Akhara carried out her pattabhishek (consecration ceremony).

Kulkarni, 52, reached the Kinnar Akhara in Maha Kumbh on Friday (January 24, 2025) the place she met Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi of Kinnar Akhara and took his blessings. She additionally met the president of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) Mahant Ravindra Puri.

Mamta took a dip within the sacred waters of the Sangam and was seen within the garments of a ‘sadhvi’. After sanyas and pattabhishek, Mamta mentioned it will likely be “my success that I’m additionally turning into a witness on this holy second of Maha Kumbh”.

She mentioned she was receiving the blessings of the saints. She took initiation (‘deeksha’) from Guru Shri Chaitanya Gagan Giri in Kupoli Ashram 23 years in the past and now she is coming into a brand new life with full sanyas, the assertion added.

Talking to reporters, Kulkarni mentioned, “I began my penance (‘tapasya’) in 2000. And I selected Laxmi Narayan Tripathi as my ‘pattaguru’ as a result of right now is Friday… it’s the day of Maha Kaali (Goddess Kaali).

“Yesterday, preparations have been on to make me a mahamandaleshwar. However, right now Maa Shakti instructed me that I select Laxmi Narayan Tripathi as a result of that individual is a ‘saakshaat’ (direct) type of Ardhnaareshwar. What else generally is a greater title than an Ardhnaareshwar doing my ‘pattabhishek’,” she mentioned, including she has been doing penance for the previous 23 years.

Kulkarni mentioned she needed to face an examination for the title of mahamandaleshwar.

“I used to be requested what did I do in 23 years. After I cleared all of the examinations, I obtained the ‘upaadhi’ of mahamandaleshwar,” she mentioned.

She mentioned that she was feeling very good right here and such planetary positions are being fashioned after 144 years. No Maha Kumbh might be as pious as this one, she added.

Requested whether or not there was anger amongst a bit of the seers over her ‘deeksha’, she mentioned, “A number of persons are indignant, my followers are additionally indignant, they really feel that I’ll return to Bollywood. However it’s all proper.

“Regardless of the Gods want. Nobody can supercede the desire of Mahakaal and Mahakaali. He’s ‘param Brahm’. I’ve carried out the ritual of ‘Pind Daan’ at Sangam,” she advised reporters.

Kinnar Akhara’s Mahamandaleshwar Kaushalya Nand Giri alias Tina Maa advised PTI that Kulkarni carried out her personal Pind Daan on the banks of river Ganga on Friday.

She mentioned Kulkarni has been related to Juna Akhara for the final two years and she or he got here involved with Kinnar Akhara for the previous two-three months.

Tripathi confirmed Kulkarni’s affiliation with the Kinnar Akhara and her religious journey.

“Mamta Kulkarni has been in contact with us for the previous one-two years. She had beforehand been related with Juna Akhara,” she mentioned.

When Kulkarni got here to Maha Kumbh, she expressed her want to serve Sanatan Dharm, she mentioned, including the seers don’t stand between a devotee and the divine and thus, they revered her want. She has now accomplished the sacred rituals and can quickly formally be part of the akhara, Tripathi mentioned.

With this induction, Kulkarni joins the ranks of the revered mahamandaleshwars — a title given to religious leaders who play a significant position in non secular discourse and social upliftment.

The grand consecration ceremony is about to happen on the Kinnar Akhara camp the place saints and devotees will witness her initiation into the ascetic order.

Mahant Balak Das, the Peethadhishwar of Patalpuri Math, mentioned, “The method of turning into a mahamandaleshwar may be very easy. There are 13 akharas, every have distinctive guidelines however the central worth of service stays paramount.” He mentioned turning into a mahamandaleshwar includes 12 years of dedication and religious apply.

“The method contains each day chanting of Ram Japa 1,25,000 instances and dwelling a lifetime of strict penance (Tapomayi Jeevan). The aspirant should comply with a disciplined routine with solely three-four hours of sleep per day,” he mentioned.

A sense to render service is the important thing to attaining the mahamandaleshwar title, Mahant Balak Das mentioned.